Rotating bird perch

ABSTRACT

A rotating bird perch having a platform which is rotatably mounted to a base and which mounts a bird support to which is attached one or more mirrors. The mirror rotates with the bird support so that a bird on the support is exposed to changing images in the mirror. The rate of rotation of the platform can be varied.

United States Patent Dulle [451 'July 25, 1972 154] ROTATING BIRD PERCH[72] inventor: William J. Dulle, 1036 E. 6th Ave., Long Beach, Calif.90810 [22] Filed: Dec. 30, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 102,660

[52] U.S. Cl ..1l9/26 [51] Int. Cl. ..A0lk 31/12 [58] Field of Search..1 19/26, 17, 26

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,998,787 4/1935 Nyhagen..l19/26X 2,731,949 l/l956 Arnould ..1 19/26 Primary Examiner-Hugh R.Chamblee Anorney--Fulwider, Patton, Rieber, Lee & Utecht 57 ABSTRACT Arotating bird perch having a platform which is rotatably mounted to abase and which mounts a bird support to which is attached one or moremirrors. The mirror rotates with the bird support so that a bird on thesupport is exposed to changing images in the mirror. The rate ofrotation of the platform can be varied.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures ROTATING BIRD PERCH BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to arotating bird perch.

2. Description of the Prior Art A rotating bird perch has been advancedin the prior art to support and rotate a bird for the amusement of thebird and the entertainment of observers. However, the bird soon becomesaccustomed to the continued rotation and the novel effect passes.

SUMMARY has been found that the combination of rotation and changingreflections from the mirror is very amusing to the bird and thereforepleasing to its owner. The described arrangement tends to make the birdquite active and interesting to. watch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a birdperch according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the bird perch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the bird perch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the bird perch of FIG. 1; and

I FIG. 5 is an enlarged view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings,there is illustrated a rotating bird perch comprising a circular base12, a circular platform 14 arranged in overlying relation to the base12, a drive means 16 operative to rotate the platform 14 relative to thebase 12, a bird support 18 carried by and rotatable with the platform14, and a mirror 20 rotatable with the support I8 so that a bird on thesupport 18 is exposed to changing images in the mirror 20.

The base 12 may be made of any suitable material but is preferably madeof molded plastic and includes a bottom plate 22, a cylindrical wall 24integral with the perimeter of the bottom plate 22, and a centralsupport cone 26 of generally circular horizontal cross section, thecross section diminishing in an upward direction.

The upper end of the support cone 26 includes a central opening 28 whichrotatably receives a depending central hub 30 of the platform 14. Theupper surface of the cone 26 surrounding the opening 28, and the lowersurface of the platform 14 surrounding the hub 30, are provided withlayers 32 of a material having a low coefficient of friction, such astetrafluoroethylene or the like. The layers 32 serve as bearing surfacesduring rotation of the platform 14 relative to the base 12.

The platform 14 is also preferably molded of plastic or the like andincludes an upper circular plate 34 which is integral with a cylindricalcircumferential wall 36. The lower portion of the wall 36 includes aradially inwardly oriented circumferential portion constituting atoothed rack 38 with which is meshed or drivingly engaged a pinion 40mounted to the output shaft 42 of an electric motor 44 constituting apart of the drive means 16. The motor 44 is suitably secured to the basewall 24 by mounting screws and a mounting bracket 46.

As best seen in FIG. 5, power to drive the electric motor 44 is obtainedby inserting a plug 48 into a usual electrical outlet,

and this power is fed through a conventional transformer 49 which stepsdown the voltage, and a conventional rheostat 50 is incorporated in thecircuit to vary the current applied to the motor 44. Adjustment of thecurrent is controlled by movement of a rheostat control 52 projectingthrough a circumferentially extending slot 54 in the base wall 24. Thetransformer 49 is secured by suitable fasteners to the base plate 22,and the rheostat 50 is secured by similar fasteners to the base sidewall 24.

Upon energization of the motor 44, the pinion 40 rotates and efi'ectsaccompanying rotation of the platform 14, the speed of rotation of theplatform 14 being controlled by adjusting the position of the rheostatcontrol 52.

The bird support 18 comprises a vertically oriented post 55 which isfixed at its lower end to the center of the platform plate 34 by acountersunk machine screw 56 which extends upwardly through the platformhub 30 and into a threaded opening provided in the lower end of the post55.

A horizontal bar 58 is disposed through a horizontally oriented openingin the upper extremity of the post 55 and is glued or otherwise fixed inposition. A pair of arms 60 extend upwardly and away from the oppositeextremities of the bar 58 and include inwardly formed upper ends whichproject into a horizontally oriented pivot tube 62 attached to the rearsurface of the mounting frame for the mirror 20. With this arrangementthe mirror 20 may be adjustably tilted about a horizontal axis bypivoting it relative to the arms 60.

In operation, the user inserts the plug 48 into an electrical outlet,and moves the rheostat control 52 to energize the motor 44 for rotationof the platform 14. This carries the bird support 18 with it and thisrotation together with the changing images of the surroundings appearingin the mirror 20 excites and amuses a bird on the bar 58. Thecombination of the reflected images in the mirror, and the rotationoccasioned by rotation of the platform 14, produces an effect upon thebird which is novel and entertaining.

Various modifications and changes may be made with regard to theforegoing detailed description without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

I claim:

1. A rotating bird perch comprising:

a base;

a platform rotatably mounted to said base;

drive means operative to rotate said platform relative to said base andincluding switch means operable to render said drive means operative;

a bird support including an upstanding member carried by and rotatablewith said platform;

a mirror; and

means projecting from said support and mounting said mirror in spacedrelation to said support whereby said mirror is rotatable with saidsupport and a bird is enabled to perch on said support and see changingimages in said mirror.

2. A rotating bird perch according to Claim 1 wherein said upstandingmember comprises a vertical post and said support includes a horizontalbar attached to said post; and wherein said means projecting from saidsupport include a pair of arms which extend from the oppositeextremities of said bar and at, tach to said mirror for supporting saidmirror.

3. A rotating bird perch according to claim 2 wherein said mirror ispivotable upon said arms.

4. A rotating bird perch according to claim 1 wherein said drive meanscomprises an electric motor mounted to said base; a toothed perimeter onsaid platform interior; and a drive gear mounted to the output shaft ofsaid motor and meshed with said toothed perimeter for rotating saidplatform.

5. A rotating bird perch according to Claim 4 wherein said switch meansincludes speed control means operative to vary the rate of operation ofsaid drive means and consequently the speed of rotation of said support.

* 4K 4 I! B

1. A rotating bird perch comprising: a base; a platform rotatablymounted to said base; drive means operative to rotate said platformrelative to said base and including switch means operable to render saiddrive means operative; a bird support including an upstanding membercarried by and rotatable with said platform; a mirror; and meansprojecting from said support and mounting said mirror in spaced relationto said support whereby said mirror is rotatable with said support and abird is enabled to perch on said support and see changing images in saidmirror.
 2. A rotating bird perch according to Claim 1 wherein saidupstanding member comprises a vertical post and said support includes ahorizontal bar attached to said post; and wherein said means projectingfrom said support include a pair of arms which extend from the oppositeextremities of said bar and attach to said mirror for supporting saidmirror.
 3. A rotating bird perch according to claim 2 wherein saidmirror is pivotable upon said arms.
 4. A rotating bird perch accordingto claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises an electric motor mountedto said base; a toothed perimeter on said platform interior; and a drivegear mounted to the output shaft of said motor and meshed with saidtoothed perimeter for rotating said platform.
 5. A rotating bird perchaccording to Claim 4 wherein said switch means includes speed controlmeans operative to varY the rate of operation of said drive means andconsequently the speed of rotation of said support.